Student Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the graduate find your program list provided by Graduate Admissions for program requirements.

It is important to understand the process of applying for a dual degree. Please visit the University Catalog for the policy on dual degrees.

Please visit the Office of Global Education.

Yes, you can! At Kent State Online, we realize learning occurs outside of the classroom too, and we want to acknowledge your experiences. We suggest reaching out to Kent State Online’s student support staff who will work with you to determine what coursework may be applicable.

For those specifically inquiring about transferrable military experience, please contact Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services.

Yes. Kent State Online does offer fully online minors. See the complete list here.

A minor is a secondary field of study used to complement or be in an addition to a major and is represented by a set of department-determined courses. The courses in the minor may be centered in a specific department or be drawn from several departments, as in the case of an interdisciplinary topical or thematic focus.

If interested in pursuing a minor, please contact your program coordinator or advisor.

Find more information on undergraduate minors and graduate minors at Kent State University.

No, an online degree is the same as an on-campus degree. Graduates of online degree programs receive the same rigorous level of education as on-campus program students.

The programs Kent State offers, whether delivered online or in-person have gone through the same extensive approval process through to final approval by the Higher Learning Commission, the body that accredits colleges and universities in the United States.

Visit the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for all FAFSA information.

You will need to request an official copy of your transcript from your school(s) to be sent directly to Kent State University.

Graduate Students
Your school can send official transcripts to gradapps@kent.edu or:

Graduate Admissions
Kent State University
PO Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001

Undergraduate Students
Your school can send official transcripts to transcripts@kent.edu or:

Admissions Office
Kent State University
PO Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001

Kent State University is test-optional, meaning students applying for first-year or transfer admission are not required to submit standardized test scores (ACT and/or SAT).

On both the Common App and Kent State Application, you will be asked if you want your test scores to be considered with your application. If you select Yes, we will review your application when test scores and other requirements are received. If you select No, your application will be reviewed once all other application requirements are fulfilled. If you choose to use test scores and your application completes without them, we may choose to review your application under our test-optional policy.

Please note: Once an applicant indicates whether or not test scores will be submitted, this decision cannot be changed by the applicant online. If you wish to change your test score preference, please contact our office as soon as possible to indicate if you would or would not like your test scores to be considered for admission.

Should you submit SAT or ACT scores, please be mindful of Kent State’s test score codes:

SAT Code: 1367
ACT Code: 3284

Yes! If you are interested in taking an online course at Kent State, you will need to register as a guest student. Please visit https://www.kent.edu/admissions/apply to complete the Guest Student application.

If you have questions about transferring to Kent State, please contact the Transfer Center.

As with all transfer students, Kent State University will assign you an advisor who will review your transcripts and discuss coursework credit with you. If you have not yet been accepted to Kent State University, a good starting point is to contact the Transfer Center.

Returning to school to finish your degree can be an overwhelming process. Please visit www.kent.edu/degree for more information on degree completion.

After three, consecutive semesters with no enrollment, Kent State University considers you a student no longer seeking a degree.

A good place to start is by contacting University Advising and Testing who will assess your previous coursework.

Alternatively, you may contact Kent State Online student support staff who will connect you with your degree’s program coordinator. We look forward to welcoming you back!

If you are looking to return to Kent after an absence of fewer than two years (undergraduate status), you will need to complete an application for re-enrollment. Complete the application here.

If you are looking to return to Kent as a graduate student, please visit the Graduate Studies Admissions page.

Tuition varies by program. Check the tuition and costs page for rates.

For details on important payment dates for the semester, visit the One Stop Billing and Payment Information page.

You can pay via the Online Payment Center using eChecks or a Credit Card. For credit cards, we accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa payments online. Please note that there is a non-refundable 2.99% transaction fee associated with each credit card payment. Credit/debit card payments toward a student account cannot be accepted over the telephone or in person. For details on International payments, payment plans, employer tuition reimbursement, prepaid college plans, and other plans, visit the Payment Options site.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. To apply for aid, visit the Financial Aid website.

For an overview of online degrees and programs tuition, visit the Kent State Online tuition page.

For a detailed overview of your bill, please log in to Flashline to view your account. If you are not a Kent State student and have questions about billing, please visit the One Stop for Student Services for more details.

Many of our programs accept students throughout the calendar year, so you can often apply for admission up to a year before you plan to actually start taking classes!

When applying to Kent State Online, you will indicate your desired term to start. We recommend applying as soon as possible because transcripts – and other important documents – need to be obtained and reviewed by KSU. Fall is a particularly busy time for our admissions department, so the sooner you apply, the better. Once you have received your letter of enrollment (whether conditional or unconditional), you will be able to enroll for courses by setting up/logging into Flashline. Often you can enroll for courses during the same semester you are accepted because Kent State Online offers many classes that begin halfway through the semester.

Visit the schedule of classes and important dates on the academic calendar.

You can visit the How to Register page to receive detailed instructions on how to register for a class. Note: You must be admitted as a KSU student or Guest student to register for classes. Learn more about being a guest student.

To withdraw from a course, log in to FlashLine and go to Student / Resources / Courses and Registration. Then, click on the Add or Drop a Course link. Choose the appropriate option from the Action drop-down box for the selected course(s). For more information, visit How to Withdraw.

Please check the Schedule of Classes for course availability.

You will need to apply as a guest student to take classes. Apply here.

To get your free version of Office (Microsoft Office Suite including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), please login with your FlashLine credentials.  Once authenticated, you will be able to download and install Office.

Whether you take one course or earn your degree through Kent State Online, you are part of #FlashesForever.

All graduating students are able to attend Kent State University’s singular, system-wide graduation ceremony that takes place in Kent, Ohio – and virtually – at the end of each term. When you register for graduation via Flashline, you will have the option to receive a Kent State University degree-holder, tassel, applicable graduation cords, and other KSU swag!

Contact Kent State Online! We’re happy to help!

View the official commencement dates by term.

Yes, students can take online courses from Kent State University if they live in another state. The university is authorized to offer online courses to students who reside in states covered by the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which is an agreement between member states, territories, and districts of the United States of America. Please note that currently, California is not a SARA member, however, the U.S. Department of Education has approved the process the state uses to meet federal regulations, so students from California may take online courses at Kent State University.

Kent State’s participation in SARA does not mean that all online courses and programs that lead to professional licensure will meet the educational requirements of each and every state. Please check the State Authorization website for more information on these programs to determine if a particular program will comply with the licensing requirements of that state.

You will need A laptop or desktop with the following minimum specifications is required:

• A minimum of a 2GHz processor
• Recommend 8GB of RAM (minimum of 4GB of RAM)

View a detailed list of technology requirements.

The Kent State Online Technology Help Center can help you with problems with the LMS, logging in to your online course, as well as hardware and software issues.

Contact TechHelp by either submitting a Support Ticket or get help via a LiveChat with support staff. You can also call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 330-672-HELP.

Log in to Canvas to access course materials.

For Canvas questions, visit the Canvas Student page.

Courses will be available on the first day of the semester. View the Academic Calendar.

The practices you need to develop to be a successful student online are very much the same ones you need to be a successful student who attends a physical classroom. However, there are some differences we will talk about, and we will show you some tips and techniques for making you successful in your online or remote classroom.

View the Tips for Success to help you prepare for online coursework.

Yes. The Center for Adult and Veteran’s Services can assist you with your needs.

State authorization refers to regulations that impact online and on-ground education offered across state lines and programs that lead to state licenses or certifications. Each state has unique authorization requirements, so Kent State must review each state’s laws to ensure that the university is always in compliance. For more information about state authorization and NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) visit https://nc-sara.org.

Yes! Visit the list of online minors to see what minors are offered online and the contact information for each one.

Offering support to online students, Career Exploration and Development is here to assist you with ALL of your career needs. Career Exploration and Development provides a variety of services to help you with career advising, pursuing full-time, part-time, co-op, internship, and student employment opportunities, graduate school preparation, resume, and cover letter critiques, practicing interviewing skills, and navigating Handshake, preparing for career fairs, and more!

For quick career-related questions, you can attend a Virtual Drop-In Session. Each drop-in visit will last about 10-15 minutes, and you can attend multiple sessions throughout the semester. If you have questions that require more in-depth conversations, please schedule a virtual appointment with one of our Career Advisors through KSU Advising.

Career Exploration and Development also hosts Future Focused Friday workshops to help you learn about various topics that will help you pursue your career and beyond. Each Future Focused Friday will be formatted as 30 minutes of presented content and 30 minutes for small group breakout sessions to discuss the material and ask questions. Topics include LinkedIn, Graduate School, Networking, Writing Resumes and Cover Letters, Interviewing, Negotiations, and many more! Visit the Future Focused Fridays webpage for the full schedule and more information on how to join a workshop.